Paraphalaenopsis serpentilingua keiki

[Dragonar]

Good day all,

Have you ever heard of a paraphalaenopsis producing a keiki? Because I haven't, and could not find any information online regarding this. But right here, it seems that a keiki has been forming on my paraphalaenopsis serpentilingua for 3 weeks already. Is this pure luck or what?

Well, I am currently 80% sure it is a keiki. Anyone who would like to say otherwise is welcomed as I would like to learn as well

Cheers

[Dollythehun]

I've heard they're do difficult, I'm impressed you can grow them. I'm.not sure about that growth...let's see what the Experts have to say.

[jkofferdahl]

What Carol? You've heard that Paraphals are difficult? Oh, the sordid lies which circulate. I'd call them finecky, especially Para. denevei (my favorite) but they're still relatively easy.

And yes, A Paraphalaenopsis can, indeed, produce a keiki. My denevei is kindly doing so now. Pretty much any monopodial orchid can produce a keiki.

[Dollythehun]

You told me that!

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Dollythehun

You told me that!

Well, then, if I said it , it must be true. Most likely I was referring to denevei.

[Dragonar]

Haha in what way is denevei finicky? The price range of denevei is a little out of my reach currently, so I only have laycockii, labukensis and serpentilingua. Waiting for that orchid show in July

Yes, I do know that any monopodial orchid does have the potential to produce a keiki
A few weeks back I was wondering how I could increase the growth rate of a paraphal, since the only 'movements' I see thus far are only on its roots! And there was where I began my research, which lead me to look at keikis, as growth is limited by genetics. I thought if I am unable to increase their growth by size, I could probably increase by count instead.

Probably because of it's small species count and rarity, there was however no information of such online. So I thought I had hit a dead end but taadaa, a miracle happened and I was hoping to post this online to help others with such queries in the future

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Dragonar

Haha in what way is denevei finicky? The price range of denevei is a little out of my reach currently, so I only have laycockii, labukensis and serpentilingua. Waiting for that orchid show in July

Yes, I do know that any monopodial orchid does have the potential to produce a keiki
A few weeks back I was wondering how I could increase the growth rate of a paraphal, since the only 'movements' I see thus far are only on its roots! And there was where I began my research, which lead me to look at keikis, as growth is limited by genetics. I thought if I am unable to increase their growth by size, I could probably increase by count instead.

Probably because of it's small species count and rarity, there was however no information of such online. So I thought I had hit a dead end but taadaa, a miracle happened and I was hoping to post this online to help others with such queries in the future

I can't verify this, but a lot of people more knowledgeable than I say that denevei is extinct in the wild. That leads to what I think are the high prices - and is why I'm so happy that mine is growing a keiki!

I say that denevei is finicky purely from my own experience growing them. Mine is far more reactive to substandard conditions (I had several, but my ex- kindly killed a couple of them for me - did you know that ammonia poured over the roots is fatal to them?). The others just grow, with far less sensitivity and far more tolerance of conditional variances. Essentially, I can grow them in with my Phals (Paraphals were one classified as "terete-leaved Phals) and are always happy. Denevei, though, I have to watch on a daily basis. All of that said, Paraphal denevei is absolutely my favorite Paraphal, and quite probably my favorite orchid.

[Dragonar]

HAHAH! What does 'ammonia' refer to? I am very curious.

Well, I'm not too sure who can verify the extinct part. Maybe we can get some information on IUCN? But the nursery that I visit is offering it to me at 200SGD, which is 148 USD. But I would say he probably bought it at 50-70% of the price he is selling.

Hence, that is why I am trying to hold my urge till July at the Singapore Garden Festival, to unleash the cash out of my wallets

[Ben_in_North_FLA]

I had bought a couple of para. serpentilingua at RF Orchid's event a few years back and grew them in my vanda shade house in South Florida, One faded away for no known reason, the second plant grew normally with my other vandaceous plants and did bloom and produced a very nice snake tongue'd lip, hence the serpentilingua (snake's tongue in Italian and possibly latin as well). wish I had taken a few photos. Probably did and posted on the now defunct orchid source forum... They did not seem difficult to grow...

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Dragonar

HAHAH! What does 'ammonia' refer to? I am very curious.

By ammonia I mean ammonia. Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula NH3. Plants don't like having it poured on their roots.